Device for stripping wall-paper.



L. F. GRlswoLn. DEVICE FOR STRIPPING WAI. L PAPER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28| i914.

Patented June 15, 1915.

IWI/I Fil LOUIS FRED GRISWOLD, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

.DEVICE FOR STRIPPING WALL-PAPER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 15, 1915.

Application led May 28, 1914. Serial N o. 841,554.

T0 all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, Louis FRED GRISWOLD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and` State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Device for Stripping Wall- Paper, of which the following is a specilication.

My invention relates to the means of removing wall paper from the walls. It is well known to those familiar with the art, that in order to obtain the best results in the redecorating of rooms, it is desirable to remove all the old paper from the wall be fore applying the new. In some cities there is an ordinance which provides that the wall paper in all rooms which havebeen occupied by sick people, particularly by people with contagious diseases, shall be removed and the rooms re-papered. In many instances there are several layers of paper on the wall, and the diiiculty of removing one or more thicknesses of paper from the wall is well known to those familiar with the art, and the means commonly used for the purpose.

Machines heretofore used for this purpose, and using steam for a loosening medium, have applied the steam to the outside of the paper. This necessitates the complete saturation of the several thicknessesy of paper and the adhesivel between thev` different layers, and consequently requires a great deal of time, a vast amount of steamvand the use of a separate tool or scraper for' removing the paper after saturation. The process has other very objectionable features, among these being the large amount of escaping steam lling the apartment and damaging wood-work, paint, furniture and decorations. It. also litters the room with scraps of slimy, sticky, water-soaked paper. v

These and many other objectionable features are done away with in the improved device.

The objects of this invention are to provide a device-of simple and economical construction, that is easily and conveniently operated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device that combines a scraper and moistener, to be used inconnection with a low pressure steam supply, that operates be tween the wall and the layer of paper next thereto, or on the line of adhesion of the paper to the wall, softening up the adhesive substance and at th' same time stripping the paper loose in large pieces'and thereby saving time and overcoming the objection to littering a room with small scraps of paper, plaster and dust.

The peculiar construction of the hand piece or scraper, which is scraper and moistener combined, requires the use of only a small source of steam supply, as'a very few pounds of steam pressure are necessary, the object'being to soften the adhesive and not to saturate the paper. The work is done between the wall and the layer of paper next thereto, therefore there is only one clinging substance to contend with.. The escaping steam is reducedito a minimum, as it is kept under perfect control by a spring valve lever, and is only brought into use when the adhesion is stubborn.

The best results are obtained, in the improved device by the use of very wet steam, this is accomplished by the expansion of the steam after it enters the flaring portion of the head. By the time that it escapes from the perforations along the line of the blade at the adhesion line, the steam has become condensed to such an extent that very little of it escapes into the room, but it will be absorbed by the adhesive substance and loosen the paper from the wall. The preferable use of wet steam also has advantages in lessening the cost of the boiler, when a portable boiler is used, as a source of steam Supply- A In the drawings forming a part of this specification Figure 1 illustrates the device connected with a portable steam generator or boiler. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the improved device. Fig. 3 is an elevation in direction of arrow 3,' Fig. 2, with a portion of the handle broken away. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of the reverse Vside of the head piece. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of a different form of head, used for scraping downward, and Fig. 6 is an elevation in direction of arrow Fig. 5.

\ Similar characters of reference designate similar parts in the drawings and specicaf tion.

The improved device is used in connection with a steam supply, preferably a small portable boiler as shown in F ig. l, to which it is connected by steam hose of sutcient length to admit of convenient manipulation over a considerable wall area in a room, without necessitating the frequent moving of the steam generator. rlhe boiler as shown in the drawings, is no part of the invention, as the device can be co nected with any suitable steam supply. n many instances it may be desirable and convenient to connect with some already installed in the apartment where the device is to be operated, and it will be seen that l claim the steam supply source broadly in combination with the elements of the moistener and scraper. 'llhe boiler with oil burner is shown as a simple andconvenient accessory. j:

Referring now to the drawings, the core 1, of the hand piece of the device, is tubular and is adapted to be connected by means of the hose 2 with the steam supply 3, thereby allowing steam to pass from the steam supply to the interior chamber le, 'of' the hand piece, when the valve 3a is open. rlhe core is insulated from the heat by an asbestos jacket la, outside of which is the handle 1b. The hand piece is provided with a chamber 1. A port ld connects the chamber 1c with the main chamber l", which .is connected with the hose 2. A valve 4 isyprovided for opening and closing the port 1d; this valve is controlled by the spring lever 4a, ulcrumed to the hand p'iece at 1f. The stem of the valve is adapted to work through a vsuitable stuing gland 5. The lever is arranged in such a position, relative to the handle 1b, that it can be conveniently gripped by the operator,

thereby assuring perfect control of the steam supply from the chamber 1e tothe chamber 1c through the port 1d,

rllhe head 6 is provided with a flange 6a, `adapted to be bolted to the flange 1g, a gashet 7 ibeing interposed between the said flanges. rllhe head 1s provided with a chamber 6b, adapted to register with the chamber 1 of the hand piece. The chamber 6b tapers and flares toward the opening 6C, in juxtaposition to the scraping edge of a blade 8, which is attached to the head 6. rlhe best results are obtained by the use of a flexible blade, for which reason it is preferable to adjustably attach the blade to the head at the points 6, more or less remote from the scraping edge, and at an angle that will allow a clearance between the blade and the edge of the head. Serrations or perforations 6e are cut in the ared edge of the head, and connect with the chamber 6b. When the stationary steam apparatus' 'Maasai vthe valve 4 allows the steam to enter thel chamber 6b, and to escape therefrom through the perforations or serrations 6e, along the stripping edge of the blade 8, and soften the adhesive and thereby permit the blade to readily strip the paper clear from ,the wall.

rlfhe head portion of the device may be made in various shapes to meet diierent conditions; as for example, in scraping downward on the wall, it may be desirable to use a head piece similarto that shown in Figs. 5 and 6, while in stripping upward a head as shown in the other figures is used, the

f principle being the same in either case.

While l have shown and described herein a practical working device, embodying my invention, 'I do not Wish to be confined to the detailed'construction only so far as required bythe scope of the claims and the existing state Aof the art.

What ll claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is-,

1. ln a devicefor stripping wall paper, the combination of a source of steam supply; an applicator having a chamber therein; steam connection between the source of steam supply `and Said chamber; means for controlling the Supply of steam from the steam source to the chamber in the applicator; a metallic stripping blade adjustably attached to the applicator; and openings from the applicator chamber in juxtaposition tothe stripping edge of the blade, the said stripping blade being adapted to coact with these openings to control' the sup. ply of steam therefrom. f

2. lin a device for Stripping wall paper,the combination of a source of steam supply, and a moistening and stripping member, said member consisting of a hand piece having a chamber therein, said chamber being connected with the steam supply; a head member attached to the hand piece; a chamber in said head member; a port between the chamber in the head member and the chamber in the hand piece; means for opening and closing said port a metallic stripping i blade attached to the head member; and openings from the chamber in the head member in juxtaposition to the stripping edge of the blade.

3. In a device for stripping wall paper, the combination of a source of steam supply, and a moistening and stripping member, said member consisting of a hand piece having a chamber therein, said chamber being connected with the steam supply; a head member attachedto the hand piece; a flaring chamber in said head member; a port between the chambers in the head member and the hand piece; means for opening and closing said port; a metallic Stripping blade attached to the head member; and openings frem the chamber in the head member inits ilared edge in juxtaposition to the strippmg 10 edge of the blade.

, LOUIS FREDI GRISWOLD.

Witnesses:

FRED C. SCHLATTER, W. J. MAsTERsoN. 

